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Biomethane for Carbon and Community (BCC) is a strategic research and capacity‑building project led by Tipperary County Council (TCC) in partnership with the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), the Irish Bioeconomy Foundation (IBF), and the Tipperary Energy Agency (TEA). Funded through the EU Just Transition Fund, the project aims to position Tipperary and its rural hinterland as a leader in the development of a sustainable biomethane sector both regionally and nationally. With a particular focus on the National Bioeconomy Campus (NBC) at Lisheen, because of its strategic location within the Tipperary Decarbonising Zone (DZ). The BCC project is operating from a newly established Biomethane Development Office (BDO) at Lisheen, Co. Tipperary. 

Biomethane development is a strategic priority for Ireland, supporting national climate targets, renewable energy expansion, agricultural diversification, and a just transition. The BCC project will enable Tipperary and its hinterland respond to national policy direction and supports for biomethane development, including the new National Biomethane Strategy. It will ensure that local communities are at the forefront of biomethane development (with associated reduced reliance on fossil fuels and a focus on biodiversity and economic benefits in the form of local jobs) and will look to prepare the conditions for future investment with a supportive network of farmers/biomass suppliers in the area.

This initiative positions Tipperary as a leader in renewable gas and rural decarbonisation. By leveraging local feedstock resources, research capacity, and proximity to the gas grid and industrial heat users, the project aims to deliver significant climate and economic benefits. Collaboration among key stakeholders like: farmer organisationss, farmers, industry partners, business, State agencies, and communities are essential to unlock this opportunity into 2026 and beyond.

For more information see here Technological University of the Shannon (TUS).

Biomethane for Carbon and Community’ is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund Programme 2021-2027

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Tipperary County Council is one of 40 regions all across Europe taking part in an 18-month programme to put a transformative approach to climate adaptation and climate change resilience into action.

Tipperary County Council will be working with its Irish and European partners to build a resilient and progressive Circular Bioeconomy in Tipperary, centred on the work of the national Bioeconomy Campus at the former Lisheen Mine Campus, Lisheen, Thurles. This exciting and exemplary project is supporting the appointment of a full time Circular Bioeconomy Outreach Officer based in Tipperary County Council and will lead to engagement with stakeholders in the circular bioeconomy including the business sector, educational sectors and the community.

For further details on the P2R project and on the Bioeconomy please click here:

40 Regions Unite to Build Climate Resilience for 53 Million Europeans - Pathway2Resilience (pathways2resilience.eu)

Home - Irish Bioeconomy Foundation

gov.ie - Bioeconomy Policy (www.gov.ie)

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Tipperary County Council is a signatory of the EU Mission on Adaptation, which aims to support EU regions, cities and local authorities in their efforts to build resilience against the impacts of climate change.

Tipperary County Council is also (since March 2025) one of 69 European Regions who are being funded and supported in preparing Climate Risk Assessments (CRA) through the CLIMAAX project. Tipperary County Council now forms part of the second cohort of regions from 19 countries (see map below) to deliver their CRAs by December 2026.  For more information on Climaax refer to the attached "Climaax Project Summary"

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Link to more detailed map

CLIMAAX is a 4-year Horizon Europe project (2023-2026) that will provide financial, analytical, and practical support to improve regional climate and emergency risk management plans. The consortium consists of a combination of climate risk assessment and emergency response experts, regional authorities responsible for risk management, regional and national Civil Protection Agencies, and small and medium-sized enterprises. 

See the dedicated webpage for more information at https://www.climaax.eu/.

The main objective of CLIMAAX is to support the implementation of the EU Adaptation Strategy and especially the first objective of the Horizon Europe Mission Adaptation: preparing and planning for climate resilience. The three key deliverables of the CLIMAAX methodology are outlined below.

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Figure 2: CLIMAAX Methodology Three Key Deliverables

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Project No. 02C657

Tipperary County Council’s LACAP outlines the main climate risks facing Tipperary.  There are 100 actions (mitigation and adaptation) to mainstream climate action across council services.  ADAPTO is an Interreg Europe Project with the aim of building climate resilient territories across the EU.  Tipperary is one of 8 partners in the project, with the shared aim of identifying Good Practice and build capacity among public authorities and stakeholders to cooperate for improved governance of climate adaptation.  Involvement in the project will inform practical measures to adjust existing services and systems to the impacts of current and future climate risks.  

The ADAPTO website has more details on the project and latest news.

https://www.interregeurope.eu/adapto

Project funding:

2021-2027 Interreg EUROPE programme

Project implementation period:

2024-04-01 - 2028-06-30

Learn how we’re helping communities adapt to climate change through innovation and collaboration. Watch the video to find out more

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Tipperary County Council Leading Transformative Change

Implementing the European Green Deal and achieving Climate Neutrality across the EU will require substantial investments and projects at the local and regional level. Motivated leaders are essential to drive this transformation. Click on the link below to see Clare Lee, Climate Action Coordinator speak about how Tipperary County Council has supported and been empowered to lead the energy and climate change transition with the support of the ManagEnergy Initiative and REMARKABLE Climate Leaders project.

https://fedarene.org/webinar/leadership-in-action-the-role-of-local-leaders-in-europes-climate-journey/

OwnYourSECAP project is an EU funded project of 11 partner countries around Europe, Ireland being one of the countries. The aim of the project is to directly engage with local  authorities in identifying, prioritising and implementing climate actions from the Local Authority Climate Action Plans that have double (climate adaptation and mitigation) or triple (climate adaptation, mitigation and energy poverty) effects in line with the climate neutrality targets by 2050. Tipperary Energy Agency is the Irish partner in the project consortium.  Tipperary County Council is a target municipality in the OwnYourSECAP project and actively collaborates with Tipperary Energy Agency and participates in the project tasks and activities. For more information about the project, please visit https://www.ownyoursecap.eu/.

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